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Mets Beat Nationals 5-1

September 4, 2016 11:38 PM

ST. LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 25: Starter Seth Lugo #67 of the New York Mets pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on August 25, 2016 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) _ Seth Lugo kept pitching like a playoff-tested ace rather than a rookie, Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce each hit a two-run homer and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 5-1 Sunday night.

The Mets won for the 11th time in 15 tries and stayed within one game of St. Louis for the second NL wild-card slot. They didn’t have much time to savor the victory _ they hurried to Cincinnati for a 1:10 p.m. Monday holiday start.

Lugo (3-2) limited the NL East leaders to one run and six hits in seven innings, walking none and striking out four. The 26-year-old righty has won three straight starts, permitting a total of three runs, to help rejuvenate an injury-plagued rotation.